Looking for recovery support groups in your local area? Be careful. You need to find the right support group for your personal situation, or you may not get the best results. In this guide to recovery support groups, we’ll cover your options, the benefits of support groups, and some advice on how to choose one from our trained addiction support professionals.

If you’re looking for recovery support groups, you’ve made the best decision you could possibly make today.

Mutual-support groups – or “self-help groups” –  offer a way for addicts and their families to take back control of their lives from alcohol and drugs by giving them a safe space where others will listen, teach coping mechanisms, provide free therapy, and hold members accountable. 

One study from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism found that people who attended 12-step programmes had a far greater chance of remaining sober one year later than those who didn’t.

If you’re an addict suffering from intense cravings, anxiety, feelings of isolation or hopelessness, peer-support groups provide the connection, tools, and support you need to fight back and remain sober.

Many of these peer support groups are 100% free, and there’s a great chance there’s one nearby in your local area.

A new life in sobriety is within reach. Let’s find you a recovery support group in your area.

What Are Support Groups for Addiction Recovery?

Support groups for addiction or substance use disorder recovery are community-based programs where people suffering from addiction meet regularly to discuss their issues, offer mutual support, and hold each other accountable.

You may be familiar with Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Cocaine Anonymous (CA). These are the most popular free peer-support groups, and millions of people around the world attend their meetings every day.

Why is this? Because they work.

One of the most important aspects of recovery is being in a healthy, supporting environment surrounded by like minded people committed to helping each other stay sober. 

During your meeting, you’ll share your challenges and successes with the group, learn healthy coping mechanisms, and discover new, valuable tools to help you overcome triggers and maintain sobriety.

Peer-support groups provide a safe, understanding place for recovering addicts to share their personal struggles without facing judgment and with the full support of others who’ve walked in your shoes before.

Support groups are intended to be supplemental treatment alongside therapy, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), and one-to-one counselling.

Here at the Cabin, we create custom treatment plans for Australians struggling with alcohol use disorder (AUD), drug abuse, mental health issues, and other disorders. And while we offer treatments to fit any budget and addiction type, we almost always recommend support groups as aftercare.

There are dozens of peer-based recovery group options for Australians both online and in your local area. The most important thing is figuring out which one is best for your personal needs. You may find that a free group is enough. You may find that you need more personalized care to deal with your underlying conditions. It depends on you.

Let’s cover your different options for recovery support groups next.

What Are My Options for Recovery Support Groups?

12-Step Programmes

12-step programmes are the most common peer support groups Australians choose when struggling with addiction.

They are free and accept anyone looking for support at any stage in their recovery. 

These groups create a sense of community where individuals can openly share their stories, learn from others, and feel understood without judgment. They’ll help you build strong connections that help you stay accountable and are one of the most powerful ways to prevent relapse and remain sober. 

Best of all, they’re always free, ensuring everyone has access to the support they need, no matter their circumstances.

The following is a list of free 12-step programmes available in Australia:

• Alcoholics Anonymous (AA): is designed for people recovering from alcohol addiction. Through shared stories and mutual support, members work through a 12-step process aimed at achieving and maintaining sobriety.
• Narcotics Anonymous (NA): serves individuals battling drug addiction. Like AA, NA promotes long-term recovery by focusing on personal responsibility, spirituality, and community.
• Crystal Meth Anonymous (CMA): is specifically tailored to those recovering from crystal meth addiction. This group helps members address the physical, mental, and emotional challenges unique to their drug use.
• Al-Anon: is a support group for friends and family members of alcoholics. It offers guidance on how to cope with the emotional and psychological effects of a loved one’s addiction without enabling their behaviour.
• Nar-Anon: supports families and friends of those affected by drug addiction, providing a safe space to discuss the impact of addiction on their lives and strategies for self-care and support.

Other 12-step groups that may fit your needs are:

• Cocaine Anonymous
• Heroine Anonymous
• Pills Anonymous
• Marijuana Anonymous

NOTE: Not all of these programs offer in-person meetings in Australia. However, you can still attend virtual meetings. Online support groups have proven to be just as effective as in-person group meetings for some individuals. Don’t let geography or your work schedule get in the way of getting help. Virtual meetings can be integral to living a happy life in sobriety.

SMART Recovery

SMART Recovery in Australia is a great option if you’re looking for an alternative to traditional 12-step programs. It focuses on helping you take control of your recovery through practical tools and strategies.

We recommend SMART recovery for Australians who prefer pursuing recovery without relying on the spiritual nature of 12-step recovery programmes. SMART Recovery uses cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) to help you manage addictive behaviours and make lasting changes in your life, which has proven to drastically improve anxiety, depression, and general well-being.

People often choose SMART Recovery because it feels more empowering—you’re not asked to label yourself as “powerless” over addiction. Instead, it’s all about building the life you want with a focus on personal responsibility and self-management. If you’re looking for a structured, science-based approach that helps you work toward your own goals, SMART Recovery might be the right fit for you.

The New Life Programme

The New Life Programme is an Australian recovery support group and rehabilitation service for men and women that helps you recover from addiction using the power of positive thinking.

This is a group therapy programme, but individual therapy lessons can be booked.

DirectLine

DirectLine is a free, 24/7 counselling service offering therapy over the phone, text support, online counselling, and referrals to specialist services in Victoria and around Australia.

If you need help immediately, you can get in touch with one of their counsellors 24/7 for professional, confidential help.

You can get help for yourself or a family rather quickly, and they even offer online therapy now as an added service. However, text therapy online doesn’t have the same effect as in-person group therapy.

Online Peer-Support Groups

You might be surprised to learn this, but Facebook and Reddit are great places to find peer support groups. There are both free and paid options, such as:

• Recovery Elevator
• Sober Sisters
• Family Addiction Support Group
• R/StopDrinking

There are also entities such as the Victoria-based Self Help Addiction Resource Centre, which offers support resources for families.

Religion-Based Support Groups (Secular Organisations)

There are also religion-based support groups (secular or for Christians, Jewish people, and Muslims (as well as people of other faiths, too). These secular recovery groups often meet at local houses of worship. For example, in the USA, there’s Celebrate Recovery, a Christian 12-step program. They also have a branch here in Australia. There are also Jewish Alcoholics, Chemically Dependent Persons, and Significant Others (JACS). We’re sure you can find a faith-based recovery programme for your religion as well.

Women’s Sobriety Groups

Women’s sobriety groups offer a safe space for women to discuss their unique sobriety issues such as trauma, family issues, and societal pressures that might not be properly addressed in mixed-gender meetings.

For example, about 1/3rd of AA members are female, but that still means meetings are mostly male. That can lead to women’s voices not being properly heard and their unique issues not being addressed.

There are women’s support groups with in-person meetings, virtual meetings, and discussion forums where women can not only discuss their unique issues but also offer support to other women in need.

One of the most popular groups is Each’s Women’s Lifestyle group. There are also international groups such as Women For Sobriety that offer online meetings and a discussion forum.

Support Groups For Families

Addiction can wreak havoc on families, so if you or a loved one are suffering from addiction, we recommend also seeking support groups for families.

In these groups, you’ll learn coping mechanisms, methods for rebuilding your family life, healing traumas, and ways to connect with others that will help you support yourself and your family members suffering from addiction.

Some support groups for families include:

• Adult Children of Alcoholics
• Al-Anon
• Nar-Anon
• Families Anonymous
• SMART Recovery Families and Friends

Sober Apps

Sober apps are a convenient way to privately maintain sobriety that helps you track your sober streak, discuss addiction issues with others, and find mutual support right from the comfort of your own home.

One of the most popular sober apps in Australia currently is I Am Sober.

What Are The Benefits of Addiction Support Groups?

The benefits of addiction recovery support groups cannot be overstated.

They range from relapse prevention and emotional support to help with everyday tasks like getting a ride to work or recovery meetings.

In fact, the importance of support groups in recovery has been scientifically studied.

One study published in the National Library of Medicine by Kaskutas, Lee Ann in 2009 entitled “Alcoholics Anonymous Effectiveness: Faith Meets Science” found that people who attended 12-step programs were twice as likely to remain abstinent.

That means simply attending a free recovery support group in your local area could double the likelihood of you or a loved one staying sober. 

The benefits of recovery support groups also include the following:

• Improved well-being: Attending support groups helps to reduce symptoms such as anxiety and depression. This is one of the main reasons that support groups help addicts stay sober from drugs and alcohol. Normally, symptoms such as depression and anxiety drive people to relapse. However with a support group, these symptoms are greatly reduced, which helps people maintain their abstinence.

• Feedback from other addicts: Hearing their stories and getting support from other addicts creates a sense of connection that reminds you that you’re not alone in this journey. This will help you stay sober and learn to overcome life’s challenges without your drug of choice. Over time, the encouragement and feedback from the group help boost your confidence, bringing positive changes and making life in recovery feel more hopeful and fulfilling. 

• Accountability: One of the most important benefits of attending support groups is having a community of people keeping you accountable. When others know about your journey, it adds a sense of responsibility that can motivate you to stay on track. If you’re tempted to relapse, the idea of sharing that with the group can help you rethink your choices.

• Improved personal and family life: Recovery groups provide a sense of community that you can’t find anywhere else. The advice, feedback, and social connections you build in recovery groups can help drastically improve your personal and family life by creating new connections, giving you practical advice for rebuilding relationships, and providing valuable resources for building a new life in sobriety.

How Can The Cabin Sydney Help?

At the Cabin Sydney, we understand how valuable mutual-help groups can be when recovering from alcoholism, drug addiction, eating disorders or behavioural addictions. That’s why we always recommend aftercare support, which we refer to as “our family”.

People who complete their treatment plan and regularly attend our recovery group meetings have a 90% success rate. That’s one of the highest marks in the industry.

If you’re looking for a recovery group in Australia, contact us today for a free consultation. It may only take a few minutes to change your life forever. Within a few days, we can pair you with a trained therapist who specialises in treating your addiction, and find you a support group that works on your schedule with a facilitator who’s trained to help group members recover from their addictions.

Sign up today. It only takes a few moments.